Peoria Standard

State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Macomb) thinks there’s a good reason why Democrats passed the repeal of the Parental Notification of Abortion Act the way they did.  

“As we said earlier, why do bills have to be dropped in the middle of veto session when they're not being properly vetted and even allowed time to read them and let the public know what's going on,” Tracy said at an Oct. 26 new conference. “Of all the human relationships, there's none stronger than a bond between a parent and a child, and certainly while it lasts an entire lifetime there is no better, critical events in the minor years when that child needs nurturing and support and counseling from the parents.”

The House recently gave final approval on the measure that strips away the requirement that parents or guardians be notified when girls younger than 18 are seeking an abortion.

Tracy fails to see the logic.

“Most parents had to write a note for any type of medication to be given to their child at school, even if it’s just an aspirin or Tylenol,” she said. “If we, say, take such care in situations like that, how can we justify doing away with parental notification of abortions? I’m not talking about authorization or consent. It is notification. It’s letting the parents know their child is going to be undergoing a major medical procedure so that the parents can be aware and help provide that child with the mental and physical health care that they desperately need in such a critical time.”

Tracy points to all the inconsistences she sees in the way the state treats minors.

“For example, we vote on bills that have allowed the Cook County Public Guardian to extend the time a child is made a ward of DCFS so that they can continue under supervision until the age of 21 because again we have been told and I believe it's true that the minors aren’t capable of these decisions even up to the age of 21,” she said. “Remember last year we extended the age of smoking to the age of 21 because that person who happens to be an adult doesn't have the proper maturity. So, doesn't it seem illogical that we would think that going under a major medical procedure such as an abortion shouldn't be given a chance to have the parents involved in that decision, or at least be notified that it's going to be happening?”

Following this week’s vote and with the measure slated to officially take effect on June 1, 2022, Tracy worries the governor’s method of operation will only continue to cause heartache and hardship for the people of the state.

“The governor's agenda in many of the bills that have been passed in the last spring session and veto session now drive wedges between parents and their children and their responsibilities and duties to nurture and take care of their children,” she said. “It's an attack on parental rights and it's a constant theme of this administration and its just one more example of the governor’s overreach into the lives and the homes of Illinois families.”

.